Jekabpils hold on against Liepaja/Triobet

20.01.2016, BBL Media Service; Photo: Lasma Irsa

JEKABPILS – No more than four points separated the teams in the all-Latvian clash in Jekabpils, as Jekabpils claimed a 72-70 win against Liepaja/Triobet at home/on the road in Group B action on Wednesday.

The first two quarters did not help to establish any sort of a gap between the sides – Jekabpils won the first quarter by a pair of points, but Liepaja/Triobet won the second period by just as many. At the half, the score was tied at 40-40.

The third quarter had its ups and downs, with the hosts once again taking a small edge, 60-58. Although the margin remained miniscule, Liepaja/Triobet had shortly got in front, but a corner three-pointer by Modestas Kumpys allowed Jekabpils to go back in front at 70-68.

Liepaja/Triobet also had multiple chances to tie the game, but two empty trips to the stripe and four missed free-throws by Karlis Grigaluns in the final minutes eventually proved too costly, as Jekabpils got the home win.

Kumpys led the hosts with a great all-around performance of 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists, his Lithuanian teammate Ronaldas Rutkauskas added 16 points and 12 boards, while Tyler Larson finished the game with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds, but shot only 5-of-19 from the field.